HomeMy WebLinkAbout1972 Thirty Years History: First Baptist Church Book (Pg. 8)Baptists did not have that much money. By this time the church had a
good business man and one who had many friends in the community.
Mr. D. B. Cofer, who would look after the financial interests and
business of the church, a position he held for many years.
Mr. Cofer tied arranged to pay $1,000 as down payment and make
three notes of $1,000 each to be paid over a period of three years. Mrs.
Doan of Bryan accepted the notes and Tarnished the needed money -
When Mrs. Doan needed the money, Mr. Cofer arranged with his
mother-in-law, Mrs. Allen, to lake up the unpaid notes. Thus the
Baptists had a lot and a big debt for them.
The next big undertaking since they had a lot was the construction
of a parsonage. The pastor had been living in Bryan since he and his
wife had come to Texas. He told some leaders that he would put a
thousand dollars into the construction of a parsonage if they would
provide the other $3,500 needed. They all agreed to secure the needed
funds and all would sign the notes personally. The bank that had
promised to furnish the money informed the group that it could not go
through with the transaction unless the Baptist denomination could
underwrite the papers- Rev. Brown was informed of the situation at an
afternoon meeting. This was one of lhemost trying experiences for the
Browns for they knew the Baptists of Texas were not in a position at
that time to underwrite any papers. Therefore, the pastor, after the
evening meal, decided to see what he could do personally although he
was relatively new in the community, he First went to sec an official of
the City National Bank, a Methodist, and arranged for $1,500, then to
see an official of the First state Bank and Trost, a Presbyterian. and
secured $1,000, and finally an official of the First National Bank, a
Baptist, and made arrangements for the last $1,000 needed. All this was
done after the evening ince]. A meeting of the committee was called the
next afternoon and was informed of the situation. The pastor was told
to proceed with the construction mf a parsonage and asked if he had
any plans for the building. lie had a set of plans with him and showed
them to the committee. The plans were accepted and thus another
problem was salved.
It became increasingly nccessap a, the workload increased, and now
the construction of a pasouage, that the pastor live at College Station,
The Dean of the College, Dr. Puryear, told Rev. Brown to move into a
vacant college house just across from the main entrance to Kyle Field.
This made it possible for the pastor to be near his work at the beginning
of the fall term of 1924. This i, the first and only time a person not
connected with the college was allowed to live in a college owned
house.
The main thing during the fall of 1924 w,u the construction of the
Baptist parsonage, the first permanent building built north of what is
now University Drive.
The contract was let November 5, 1924 for $4,650 to the Newsome
Contracting Company. Rev. Brown supervised the work, together with
his other many duties. The building was almost completed by the
Christmas holidays. This being the first permanent building at the
North Gate, there were no streets or drives for that section. Rev. Brown
borrowed a horse and turning plow from Mr. Charley Atkins and made
a raised walk from University Drive to the parsonage for the pastor's
home was to be the place of all meetings for some years to come. Rev.
and Mrs. Brown went back to North Carolina for a visit with their
parents during the Christmas holidays.
The Browns moved into the parsonage the fust of January 1925 and
immediately began making plans for an enlarged and more dynamic
program. Everyone seemed happy now that the leaders had a per-
manent place to live near the campus. The students seemed especially
happy that they had a place for their business meetings and their social
programs in a home that always extended to them and everyone a
cordial welcome. The home was built so that three large rooms could be
thrown together for the larger gatherings. The largest number attending
a social was between 90 and 100.
First Parsonage of First Baptist Church
College Station, Texas
Erected 1924
Soon after the Browns moved into the parsonage they received an
urgent request to visit the First Baptist Church, Plainview, Texas, with
the idea of a call by that church. Rev. Brown went to Plainview for a
mid -week service and found a very attractive program. They had just